§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost of an 80 per cent. reduction on 1980 levels of United Kingdon emissions of sulphur dioxide if achieved by(a) 2000, (b) 2005, and (c) 2010; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 26 January 1994]: Any estimates are uncertain since they depend on what is assumed about the future commercial decisions of the electricity supply industry and others as well as underlying assumptions about long-term economic growth and fuel prices. The Government have considered a variety of 346W scenarios giving rise to a wide range of costs. We have not estimated the cost of meeting an 80 per cent. reduction target in 2000 since this target would not be feasible. Our estimates however suggest that, taking account of the anticipated refurbishment and replacement needs for relevant plant, 80 per cent. reductions by 2010 is an economically more practicable target, which will result in considerably fewer areas where critical loads are exceeded.